In a unanimously adopted resolution at the end of its thirty-eighth session yesterday, the Commission urged "the international community to complement and supplement, through increased international development assistance, efforts of the developing countries that commit increased national funds to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic."

It drew particular attention to the problematic situation "in Africa, especially sub-Saharan Africa, and the Caribbean, countries at high risk of expansion of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and countries in other affected regions whose resources for dealing with the epidemic are seriously limited."

The Commission stressed that HIV/AIDS has been intensifying poverty in many countries, affecting individuals, families and communities, reducing human capital and having profound and long-lasting effects on a country's social and economic development.

Combating that trend required urgent and sustained long-term action and coordinated responses in all fields and at all levels, it said.

In this regard, the Commission stressed the need to strengthen health systems by addressing the severe shortage of skilled health personnel, which has been a major obstacle to the expansion of programmes to fight the pandemic and improve sexual and reproductive health.